ROCK SPRING, GA (WDEF) – Following recent reports of kratom-related hospitalizations in Walker County, health experts are warning parents about the dangers this unregulated substance poses to adolescents.
Kratom is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves contain compounds that can act as both a stimulant and a sedative, depending on the dose.
While it’s not federally scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act, the Drug Enforcement Administration lists kratom as a Drug and Chemical of Concern, and the FDA warns it is not approved for any medical use.
Joel Miller, MAT Nurse Coordinator for CADAS, tells News 12 that adolescents are especially at risk.
“I think adolescents are probably more impulsive. They don’t have the knowledge of how much they’re taking and what they’re taking, and peer pressure from teens or the Internet, you know, they’re more bendable and they’re more easily influenced.”
Miller says access to kratom is easier than many parents realize.
“You can easily get it online. Age verification is not required on some of these sites. They can pay by PayPal or cryptocurrency, you can do it without the parents knowing. That can be really dangerous… when they’re at home, they don’t think there’s a drug transaction happening in the bedroom.”
Studies show even small doses can increase alertness and talkativeness, while higher doses can cause sedation, confusion, or even symptoms similar to opioid withdrawal.
Researchers have linked kratom use to addiction, liver damage, seizures, and behavioral changes, particularly in young users whose brains are still developing.
Experts also note that unregulated online sales mean products can vary widely in strength and purity, increasing the risk of overdose or poisoning.
Although national data show relatively low rates of kratom use among adolescents, researchers say the number of teens trying it is growing, often after seeing it promoted online as “natural” or “legal.”
What Parents Can Do?
- Talk openly with children about substances marketed as “natural” or “herbal.”
- Monitor online purchases and social media trends.
- Be alert to signs such as nausea, agitation, mood changes, or loss of appetite.
- If kratom use is suspected, seek medical or behavioral health support immediately.
Experts emphasize that awareness and open communication are the most effective ways to keep teens safe from emerging drug trends like kratom.
